May 28, 2026 · 1 dk okuma
What to Eat in Istanbul: A Local's Honest Shortlist
Forget the tourist-trap kebab menus. From simit at sunrise to künefe at midnight, this is what — and where — locals actually eat.
Istanbul's food scene is enormous, and the gap between a great meal and a tourist trap can be a single street. My honest shortlist:
Morning
A simit from a street cart, still warm, with a glass of tea by the water. Total cost: about a euro. Total happiness: immense. If you want to sit down, a full Turkish breakfast (serpme kahvaltı) in Beşiktaş will keep you going until dinner.
Midday
Find an esnaf lokantası — a tradesmen's restaurant with steam trays of home-style stews. Point at what looks good. It will be.
Evening
Meze and grilled fish on the Asian side, or a proper İskender kebap if you've earned it. Finish with künefe — hot, cheesy, syrup-soaked and worth every calorie.
My Istanbul Food Crawl covers all of this in one delicious evening — come hungry.